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Long Island based Private Investigator firm and national agency of PI's and private detectives. Radius provides 100% confidential services and due diligence in personal, business, or legal investigations in the New York, Long Island, NYC / New York City area, and around the world.Thu, 17 Aug 2017 19:55:14 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.1http://prvteye.com/website/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cropped-Radius178x178-50x50.pngNY and Long Island Private Investigators | Radius Investigations, Inc.http://prvteye.com
3232Fun Fact Friday: DNA Profiling-Modern Science to Seek Justicehttp://prvteye.com/fun-fact-friday-dna-profiling/
http://prvteye.com/fun-fact-friday-dna-profiling/#respondFri, 11 Aug 2017 09:00:46 +0000http://prvteye.com/?p=4935DNA profiling is a recent discovery that has only been used since the 1980s. DNA fingerprinting was discovered, like many scientific breakthroughs, by accident.

Dr. Alec Jeffreys is a geneticist from the University of Leicester in Great Britain. The original project that led to his discovery that DNA can have similar repeating patterns happened through Dr. Jeffreys performing a study on myoglobin genes in seal meat, then comparing it to humans. He noticed that despite the different species, there were similarities in the genetic patterns. His team developed a radioactive probe that would extract and reveal these patterns onto x-rays as DNA “fingerprints.” Through further testing of human DNA, he also discovered that children shared half of the DNA from each parent, which is used for paternity testing. His DNA fingerprinting technique was used for the first time to settle an immigration case, bringing worldwide attention to Jeffrey’s work. After this discovery, he found that even with DNA having familiar sharing, the lengths of these sequences were unique to each individual and each pattern cannot exist anywhere else in the world except for identical twins.

DNA Testing to Find the Truth

In a small village of Leicestershire, not far from where Jeffreys was doing his studies, occurred a double rape and murder in 1983 and 1986. Both victims were 15-year old young women. A Mr. Richard Buckland confessed to the second crime, but detectives felt that the details did not match up to the timeline of both murders: Buckland would have been 14 years old at the time of the first occurrence. Aware of Professor Jeffreys’ discoveries on identifying individuals through DNA, law enforcement went to him to seek help on these cases. Jeffrey took them on, but was not fully confident that he would be able to crack it: no one had ever done a DNA analysis for a crime scene before. Despite his concerns, his testing confirmed that the DNA blood and semen samples found on both victims matched, thus both were raped and murdered by the same person. Following those results, through comparative testing of the blood and semen of Buckland to the fluids found at the second murder, Jeffreys’ DNA fingerprint technique revealed that the blood and semen from the murders did not match Buckland. This would be the first case of DNA testing exonerating a person from conviction.

Once it was established that Buckland was innocent and that DNA fingerprinting can be successful, came the challenge of identifying the murderer. Police launched a village-wide testing of all 5,000 men. Once they were narrowed by matches to the blood type found at the crime scenes, their semen was tested. Despite the DNA profiling successfully clearing Buckland, none of the samples from the village matched. The public and police were disappointed and concerned for the whereabouts of the killer.

For a year, Colin Pitchfork, resident baker, avoided having his blood tested. He swapped his passport photo with a colleague Ian Kelly, which police were using as identification in the massive search, to have Kelly’s blood tested instead of his. A woman in the village went to the police after she overhead a man claiming to have given his blood on behalf of Colin Pitchfork. Pitchfork was arrested and had his blood tested, revealing a match to the crimes. Colin Pitchfork was convicted to a life sentence for both murders. This case was the first in history to use DNA profiling to free the innocent and solve crimes.

DNA Profiling revolutionized forensics and the criminal justice system. Thanks to this discovery and further discoveries in DNA forensics, countless convictions were overturned with DNA testing, giving the innocent the concrete evidence to go free. It also ensured that the accused were properly convicted for their actions.

]]>http://prvteye.com/fun-fact-friday-dna-profiling/feed/0Fun Fact Friday: The “Other” Matthew Seiferhttp://prvteye.com/fun-fact-friday-the-other-matthew-seifer/
http://prvteye.com/fun-fact-friday-the-other-matthew-seifer/#respondFri, 04 Aug 2017 09:00:08 +0000http://prvteye.com/?p=4822A quick Google search of your name may reveal another person (or several people depending on how common your name is) who shares your name, which can lead to some fascinating (or horrifying) facts about these name doppelgangers. But what are the odds that the person who shares the same name as you also has common interests and backgrounds?

Who is the “other” Matthew Seifer?

Matthew “Matty” Seifer, from Hull, Massachusetts, had a long career as an agent enforcing federal drug laws. Seifer graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy with a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1930. In 1941, Matthew began his career as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in Boston, which is known today as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Shortly after starting as an agent, Seifer took a reprieve and served in the US Navy as a Pharmacist Mate during World War II, from 1944-45. He was eligible for deferment in the draft, yet proudly chose to serve his country. Upon his return from deployment, he was transferred to New York from Boston.

Seifer has been described as a “living legend” for his 33 years working for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics/Drug Enforcement Agency. Throughout his career, he held numerous posts and responsibilities, and he became the expert on narcotic intelligence. He was a vital resource for law enforcement agencies, who could go to him for answers and consulting, during a time when the narcotics world was changing and challenging. Matthew retired from the agency in 1977 at the age of 69. Even well after his retirement, Seifer’s history with the DEA was treasured. He was invited in 1999 to cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the new DEA Museum in Washington DC.

Matthew Seifer was one of the founding members of the New England Narcotic Enforcement Officers’ Association in Massachusetts. This organization serves as a resource for education and intelligence for law enforcement and the community in addressing organized crime and drug trafficking. In 2006, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association in recognition of his dedication to the organization, law enforcement, and the greater community. He worked with the NENEOA throughout his life and became the oldest member in the association. In January 2012, he passed away at the remarkable age of 103.

Matty Seifer spent his lifetime serving the country, law enforcement, and local community, imparting valuable intelligence on federal drug law. His family and friends recount his love to share his stories, memories, and wisdom to his loved ones, including 9 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. Seifer left behind a legacy of service; We are grateful and honored to have the chance to learn about Seifer’s history. It is amazing to think that we found such a remarkable gentleman through a Google search using our lead investigator’s name.

Lapayowker alleges that Del Olmo would make suggestive comments towards her, pound on her windshield while she was in the vehicle, and scream at his son loud enough for her to hear through the attached studio she was renting for the month. She left the studio after three nights, but returned to pick up a few items that she had left. Del Olmo let her inside, trapped her in the room, masturbated in front of her, ejaculated into a trash can, then as he let her leave stated “Don’t forget to leave me a positive review on Airbnb.”

Since Lapayowker has reported the incident to the police and Airbnb, Airbnb removed Del Olmo from their website. The attorney representing Ms. Lapayowker discovered through Del Olmo’s criminal records that he had been arrested and charged in 2013 for battery. He was accused for pulling his former girlfriend by her hair, dragging her from the back to front seat of his car while his child was in the vehicle. Del Olmo was never convicted, but was referred to an anger management program. Airbnb stated that they had done a background check on Del Olmo, but Lapayowker is suing for not disclosing the arrest to her and allowing him to host on the website.

Two questions remain: Was their background check provider thorough enough to report back the domestic violence arrest? If so, why did Airbnb still approve Del Olmo?

Background Check Providers-Did they report enough?

If the provider did not report back the arrest in the background check results, it would not be a surprise. We have discussed in our blog several times about how there are many online background check providers out there, but they may not have access to legal databases. Airbnb even states on their help page that their background checks may not be thorough or accurate: “Due to the way certain databases are maintained, there may be gaps in the coverage provided by public records searches, and the online databases may be only updated periodically by local governments which we do not control or direct. Results of these database checks may not reveal or include include recent criminal record activity.” Regardless, companies are placing themselves at a liability by relying on background providers that may not have full, accurate, licensed access to background information. In order to access licensed proprietary databases, which can include the most up date criminal records and legal information, you need to be a professional with the proper legal licensing, such as a licensed private investigator.

Did Airbnb Practice Due Diligence?

According to Airbnb’s help page, in the US they check “certain databases of public state and county criminal records, as well as state and national sex offender registries for criminal convictions and sex offender registrations.” They also check the OFAC list for terrorist designations. Airbnb has not commented on whether they knew about Del Olmo’s previous arrest, citing the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which prohibits disclosure of background check results, however, they did confirm that Del Olmo showed no prior convictions. Airbnb reports that they run background checks on at least the user’s first and last name as well as date of birth. However, what they state on their help page brings more concern on their level of due diligence: “We do not have these identifiers [full name and date of birth] for all hosts and guests and therefore cannot guarantee that we have conducted a check on every host or guest.” Airbnb is missing vital information for background checks when users apply to be hosts or guest on their website. Airbnb should have a consistent sign up process that disallows incomplete information in an application.

Bottom Line

It has not yet been confirmed whether the provider did not accurately report the arrest or if Airbnb was aware of the previous arrest and neglected to deny Del Olmo as a host. Regardless, Airbnb has a vast peer-to-peer travel hosting network with no face-to-face time with their hosts. It is imperative that they get their background check information from verified services from licensed private investigators and follow through on intelligence they receive to keep their website service safe for the public. Otherwise, Airbnb will be facing more lawsuits and put the company’s future in jeopardy.

Eugène François Vidocq, (July 1775-May 1857) a french criminal mastermind, is regarded as the first private detective in the world and the father of modern criminology. After decades of a life of crime, Eugene turned and became an informant for the police, eventually founding his own private detective agency, and discovered and patented forensic techniques still used to this day.

First Private Detective in the World: From Convict to Private Eye

Even as a child, Vidocq could not resist the excitement of finding trouble. Throughout his teenage years, he found himself in and out of military, fleeing after killing two officers in a duel, joining another regiment, only to run again to avoid the noose after striking a superior officer in the head. As a young adult, he spent years committing fraud, forgery, assault on some soldiers, privateering, and accused of murder. (which was dropped once the victim admitted her stab wounds were self inflicted) He was imprisoned multiple times, yet always found ways to escape: Whether it was through the help of fellow inmates or through various disguises to escape apprehension. (Including dressing as a sailor under the name Auguste Duval, stealing a nun’s habit to escape a prison hospital, and working as a cattle driver.)

After a life on the run and numerous escapes, his past transgressions finally caught up with him in 1809 and was arrested. Vidocq had been running for four years after the last escape, and despite his best efforts to try to live a normal life, he kept being recognized by people from the past. Turning a new leaf, Vidocq offered his services as an informant to the Parisian police, which they approved. He worked within the prisons, gathering intel from inmates on forged identities and unsolved crimes, which he forwarded the information to the police chief of Paris. The inmates were unaware that he was a spy: They were blinded by their infatuation with his infamy as a master criminal, which Vidocq used to his advantage. After his release from prison, Vidocq continued to work for the police chief, Jean Henry. He blended into the criminal underbelly to gather intelligence, changing identities and disguises to thwart their suspicions.

Vidocq’s work did not only include his insight into the criminal mind, but his discoveries in the forensic science field. Eugene’s contributions include fingerprinting, ballistics, (which one of the first cases to use his technology was in identifying the person who murdered Abraham Lincoln) plaster of Paris for imprints, holds patents on indelible ink and unalterable bond paper, and forensic anthropometrics.

In 1833, Vidocq founded the first known detective agency, Le bureau des renseignments, (Office of Information) which was a mixture of a detective agency and private police force. Similar to his plain-clothes Brigade de la Sûreté, (Security Brigade) he hired ex-convicts for his force. After several lawsuits and an unsuccessful attempt to expel him from the city, he transitioned into a private life, taking on occasional cases through his later life. Vidocq died in 1857 in his home in Paris from illness.

Eugène François Vidocq’s legacy has been depicted in literature, theater, film, and even video games. Modern police and detective work methods and techniques are indebted to Vidocq’s contributions and legacy. He, rightfully so, is considered to be the father of modern criminology, the first private detective, and the leader in forensic science.

Kate Warne, first female private investigator hired in the US. This image has been debated on whether or not it is Kate Warne dressed as a male. Unfortunately, there are few portraits of Warne, let alone confirmed: However, that only adds to her legacy as a master of disguise and covert detective.

Kate Warne: First Female PI and Master of Disguise

In 1856, the now famous Pinkerton detective agency in Chicago, had a woman walk in inquiring on what Alan Pinkerton first thought to be for the secretary position. He described her as a “commanding person, with clear cut, expressive features…a slender, brown-haired woman, graceful in her movements and self-possessed. Her features, although not what could be called handsome, were decidedly of an intellectual cast… her face was honest, which would cause one in distress instinctly [sic] to select her as a confidante.”

Kate Warne, a widow from New York, came in to the Pinkerton Agency to respond to the detective position that was advertised in the local paper. Alan Pinkerton was surprised at her inquiry; It was not custom for women to work as private eyes, but he was impressed by her argument: “[Women are] most useful in worming out secrets in many places which would be impossible for a male detective.” She argued that women can befriend the wives and girlfriends of suspected criminals, since men love to brag when they are around women who encourage them. Warne added that women are observant and have an eye for detail. Pinkerton hired her as a private eye and despite protests from his brother who was also his business partner, Alan never regretted his decision.

Warne was a master of disguise: From portraying herself as a fortune teller to lure suspects into telling her their secrets, rich society matrons, to changing her Northern mannerisms into a Southern accent to play the role of a “flirty Southern belle” from Mongomery, Alabama, in the Pinkerton National Detective Agency’s paramount case: The Baltimore Plot. Through Warne’s disguise and ability to convincingly take on Southern mannerisms, she was able to infiltrate a ring of Southern sympathizers in Maryland and gather the details of a plan to assassinate then president-elect Abraham Lincoln on his way to the inauguration. Through Pinkerton and Warne, she was able to secure Lincoln and safely transport him to the inauguration by smuggling him through a train car, passing through Baltimore undetected. Lincoln continued to use Pinkerton and Warne through the Civil War to gather covert intelligence. In 1860, Pinkerton started a “Female Detective Bureau”, hiring more female detectives, led by Kate Warne. This was very progressive at the time, as women were not allowed to join the police force until 1891 nor become investigators until 1903.

She continued to serve until 1868, when she died from a sudden illness. She is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago in the Pinkerton Family Plot. In March of 1868, a memoriam was written in the Democratic Enquirer on Warne’s life as a private detective: “Up to the time of her death, her whole life had been devoted to the service into which she had entered in her younger years. She was undoubtedly the best female detective in America, if not the world.”

GPS tracking is a valuable tool: Whether you are a parent keeping track of your kids as they go to and from school, monitoring your teenager as they become a more independent driver, or a business owner who wants to maximize efficiency and transparency in your fleet. Having a GPS tracking device in your vehicle or in a backpack is a great way to keep tabs on your loved ones.

Disadvantages to Phone Tracking

Battery and Data

You are limited to the battery capabilities of the phone, which combined with using other apps during use, can cause decreased battery life and performance on the phone, making it an easy excuse for those you are tracking to avoid being tracked. GPS tracking on a phone is notorious for racking up data, which could cause throttling or overage charges in your phone bill.

Easy to Turn Off

Amid privacy concerns, apps cannot force a user to keep GPS tracking on their phone: Which means that the user could turn off the tracking and attribute it to glitches, signal problems, or a dead battery. The other issue is that tracking apps can easily be manipulated: For example, some apps have reported that if the user is on a call, the tracking can stop in the duration of the phone call.

More Likely to Be Lost or Stolen

Phones are more likely to be stolen out of a vehicle than a tracking device, which while the phone can still be tracked, there is no guarantee you will be able to get the phone back. Plus if the thief does a factory reset on the phone, there is a chance that you will not be able to continue tracking it. (especially if you use the iPhone/iPad tracking with iCloud or Google Maps tracking)

Benefits of Using a GPS Tracking Device

GPS tracking devices such as the iTrail Solo GPS Tracker with the iTrail Live app (as well as web-based desktop software, prefect for the office) offers a proprietary GPS tracker over using a smartphone. While iTrail comes with its own price tag and subscription, (starting at 29.95 per month) having a separate tracking device comes with its own benefits:

No drain on phone battery or data

iTrail uses the Verizon CDMA network to transfer data, (which is included in the subscription to iTrail) and their product specifies that the device can run for 14 days from a full charge with 1 hour of movement per day. The device will also go to sleep if the vehicle is idle for a certain amount of time. By using a separate GPS device, it reduces data usage on your cellphone plan and saves battery for the user.

Alerts

Some phone tracking apps have alert systems, but devices like iTrail have alert systems to notify you if the driver goes above a certain speed, if they press the S.O.S button, turned off the device, if they departed or arrived at a certain destination, if they go outside a set geo-fence or travel area, or the battery is low. These alerts can be sent either via email or text to your phone.

Discreet

Reports

Some apps either only show real-time tracking or are limited in history reports. ITrail Live allows you to review past data, including speed and location pings.

GPS tracking has become a vital tool in keeping track of loved ones or of a fleet if you run a field-based business. While smartphones have advanced considerably in the last few years in GPS tracking, they are not perfect when it comes to battery life and preventing someone from manipulating the phone settings. Having a dedicated GPS tracking device is the more efficient way to record a person’s travels.

Have Questions About GPS Tracking?

Call us at 1-888-698-0077 for more information on using GPS tracking devices

]]>If You are Recently Widowed or Divorced and Are Online Dating, Your Match Could be a Scammerhttp://prvteye.com/widowed-or-divorced-online-dating-scam-warning-signs/
Mon, 10 Jul 2017 15:13:19 +0000http://prvteye.com/?p=4661

Losing a partner or going through a divorce can be a devastating and exhausting ordeal. As time passes and the dust settles, you may be considering (or already have started) online dating. You want to try to fill the void left by your previous spouse with the connection with another partner. Online dating can be a valuable option, allowing you to test the waters from the comfort of your home or phone, but unfortunately, there are those that prey on those in your situation, especially if you are widowed.

Dating scams happen more often than you think

There has been a recent uptick in cases I’ve received with stories that are similar to the point of being uncanny: Client is widowed, (or divorced) and in their lonely state, try online dating. They check the “widowed’ or “divorced” box on their dating profile and begin to feel out for matches. Someone contacts them, they kick it off, and things move fast. The match is usually foreign, which adds to the allure. The match is also widowed or divorced and the clients feel connected through their hardships. The match sends them songs, love poems, little “thinking of you” mementos. Everything seems to be going well, but then the match discusses devastating situations that have happened in their lives. They don’t know how they are going to get by without extra financial support. They ask to borrow money from you; The big job they were boasting about before will pick up, they swear they’ll pay you back. The clients feel for them: after all, they’ve been in tough situations themselves. The client sends off money, usually a very large sum, through a wire transfer, such as Western Union. Once everything is said and done, the match goes ghost. Stops replying to messages, phone calls, emails, Skype calls. Now they are not only left heartbroken, but at a loss of a huge amount of capital. They come to us to try to find the scammer, to try to get their money back, and stop them so this doesn’t happen to someone else.

Why do online dating scams happen?

To put it simply: money. Widows usually receive an inheritance and/or insurance payout from the deceased spouse. Even those who are divorced can be targets, despite many who have to pay for legal services, they can still get a big divorce settlement. Combine that with people who are in this type of situation are emotionally devastated and vulnerable, scammers have the perfect target to siphon money. These scammers specifically look for profiles that are listed as “widowed” or “divorced” and will be the ones to message you first.

Warning Signs that your match is a scammer

Doesn’t answer calls, relies on text.

Calls repeatedly go to voicemail or endlessly ring. Many scammers use apps or services to redirect several numbers (or burner numbers) back to their main phone to avoid giving out their real phone number. Scammers prefer to maintain contact through text or email.

Vague or “parroted” answers.

Any answers seem generic or to a script. “Parroted” answers happen when the match asks a question, you answer, and you get an answer that would amount to “me too.” While having a lot in common can be a sign of a good match, if almost every question or topic that comes up you both agree upon, they may be scamming you by manipulating you in establishing a connection. These answers may also come across as inconsistent with their profile or other social media profiles.

Topic of money.

Some boast about their big jobs to try to attract you to their wealth. If they do, all too conveniently they lose their job or some other devastating event happens where they cannot pay the bills anymore. They ask if they can “borrow” some money to cover unforeseen expenses. These expenses can include rent, medical expenses for themselves or a loved one, money lost from theft or a failing business, or travel expenses to come see you. These payments can be requested by them in the form of a wire transfer, transfer of assets, money order, prepaid card, gift cards, or e-currency. Don’t believe that by paying them once that it will stop: scammers will only get more aggressive and come up with more stories to keep the cash flowing from you. Scammers will even resort to extortion over any compromising content you may have shared with them. (Also known as revenge porn or “sextortion”)

Moves quickly.

Says “I love you” or “you’re my soulmate” in a very short period of time, without having met you in person. This can happen within just a few email or message exchanges. As mentioned earlier, they prefer to move you over to maintaining contact through a chat app or email to avoid being detected by online dating websites, who have protections in place in their message boxes.

Master of flattery.

Many scammers love to use poetry and love songs and send them over to you as a way to win you over. Back to the last point of moving quickly, they will shower you with flattery very early on even when they barely know you.

Difficulty meeting in person.

If your relationship is long distance, scammers use that to their advantage to why they can’t meet. Even if you travel to where they claim to live, they always comes up with an excuse on why they can’t get together with you.

Guilt trip or “ghosting.”

If you decline to “lend” money or suspect they are not what they seem, the scammer can become irate and make you feel guilty for accusing them or by not giving money. This usually results in them fabricating another situation that requires money. If you stand your ground on not giving money or you do send money to them, the scammer disappears, known as “ghosting”, by no longer contacting you and replying to any messages or calls.

Prevent yourself from being scammed

Overall, the best thing to practice is the old adage: If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t share personal or compromising photos or videos, which can be used as blackmail by scammers. Use Google Image Search to help confirm that the pictures they send or show in their profile are who they say they are and not a catfish account. (But be warned: basic Google Search and People Search services may not be enough or accurate.) Finally, avoid giving out any personal information, (including credit card numbers, passwords, and addresses) never give money to someone you met online, and if you agree to meet in person, let a close friend or family know, and always meet in a public area.

If you are a victim of a dating scam

If you are a victim of a dating scam, you need to do the following:

Contact your bank as soon as possible and notify them that you are a victim of a scam. Change any bank information that was given to the scammer and see if there is any way the money can be traced, blocked, or returned to you. Unfortunately, there is a very high probability you will not get your money back, especially if it was done through a Western Union or e-currency.

Do not accept any offers for help by online recovery “services.” Scammers like to double dip: They can do a recovery scam, by claiming to be a police officer or legal professional, promising to help you recover the money and put the scammer in jail. They won’t ask for money until after they “claim” to have arrested the scammer.

Do not accept any “repayment” directly from the scammer, it is very likely that money has been taken from other victims, which would involve you in a money laundering scheme.

You can contact the police, but if the scammer is located in another state or another country, there is very little they can do. Hire a private investigator to locate the scammer so you can hand the information to the proper authorities. (such as the FBI, who are unlikely to work with you unless you have a concrete lead on the scammer. Note that if the scammer is located internationally, there is not much that can be done to get your money back.)

Are You The Victim Of An Online Dating Scam?

Time is of the essence. Get a free, confidential consultation with our private investigators: The experts in locating scammers around the world.

]]>The 4 Most Common Myths of Working as a Private Investigatorhttp://prvteye.com/the-4-most-common-myths-of-working-as-a-private-investigator/
Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:38:39 +0000http://prvteye.com/?p=4288

No trench coat or mustache required.

It’s safe to say that many of us have read or watched the likes of Sherlock Holmes, CSI, or Magnum P.I. and become starry-eyed towards the private investigation profession. New investigators enter the field expecting car chases, gun fights, and heart-stopping action. But once they have been in the industry, many become burned out or disheartened to see that it’s not what they thought private investigation would be. As someone who is a licensed private investigator, I’ll try to bring you down slowly.

Myth 1: We’re just stalking people’s spouses/exes

Surveillance is the most well-known service that private investigators provide, with the stereotype that we’re hiding out behind alleys and street corners in a trench coat, following your cheating partner or spouse. While there are still private investigators who specialize in doing infidelity cases, many private investigators (including myself) have moved away from being “cheater chasers.” Investigations are moving to the digital realm: with services including social media investigations, computer and phone forensics, and data acquisition. With that said, surveillance is still a valuable service and strategy: for example, using surveillance as a method in investigating and verifying a disability claim for a business or insurance company. As for being “stalkers”, keep in mind that a licensed and insured investigator know how to follow the proper legal procedures that differentiate “surveillance” from “stalking.” (For example, a P.I. cannot illegally enter a property, home, or building, AKA breaking and entering. PINow has an excellent general guide on what private investigators can and cannot do.)

Myth 2: P.I.s only use Google to find people (AKA: “I could do it myself with a little extra effort!”)

I have had countless cases come in with this mentality. When we do background checks or missing person/asset searches, we are not just Googling it. Any Private Investigator worth their salt are licensed professionals who have access to top-quality legal documentation and databases that are not available to the public and restricted to licensed private investigators. Period. We have numerous posts discussing why using online databases not only are not comprehensive, but inaccurate and not kept up-to-date. With that said, even with our databases, getting a full comprehensive report of information on an individual is not going to be achieved just by entering a name and state into a database search. We cross-check information and utilize various resources and strategies, (depending on the case, can include fieldwork such as surveillance and interviewing neighbors) which is not something you can achieve with just a Google search or a cheap online database search service.

Myth 3: Private Investigation is always exciting

Sorry kids, it’s (usually) not like the movies. Don’t get me wrong, I have had cases that have been exciting and taken twists and turns that I never anticipated or could have ever imagined. But to be honest, you will be spending a majority of your time in the office or a surveillance vehicle. To succeed in this field, it’s not just enough to be skilled in the physical work; You need to know how to gather intelligence, assess multiple streams of information, (most of which is digital) write top-notch comprehensive reports, (Reports are no joke and where you will easily spend most of your time. Regardless of what the client does with a report, it must be of a quality that is admissible in court) and conduct intake interviews.

Myth 4: We’ll share our war stories with you

As I mentioned in the last myth, our work can get exciting and we do get cases that move in directions we never expected to go from the start. However, don’t expect us to share the details with the world. Legitimate private investigators can only succeed by operating on strict confidentiality practices on all cases to protect them and their clients. Failure to maintain confidentiality not only is unethical, but can put our licenses on the line. Which means no, we are not going to hash out the latest cases with you.

MATTHEW SEIFER

Matthew Seifer is the Lead Licensed Private Investigator at Radius Investigations, Registered Armed Guard, and NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Certified Instructor. Seifer is a US Army veteran with over 26 years experience in the private sector. Matthew’s specializes in corporate due diligence, TSCM bug sweeps, security services and assessments, and digital forensics.

Interested in Becoming a Private Investigator?

]]>Why Hiring a Private Investigator to Verify Google and Social Media Background Checks is a Good Ideahttp://prvteye.com/why-hiring-a-pi-for-background-checks-is-a-good-idea/
Fri, 23 Jun 2017 18:47:02 +0000http://prvteye.com/?p=4585

Hiring can be a long and stressful process, but a necessary procedure. Many companies try to cut corners and make it as streamlined as possible, but lose vital details in the process, and set themselves up in a legal minefield.

Businesses need to use a professional background check service

As the internet has grown rapidly comes more accessible information. What once required a set of the Encyclopedia Britannica to answer inquiries, has now become cumbersome door stoppers, its original purpose replaced by Google and Wikipedia. There is an alarming amount of businesses who have deduced that solely using Google and checking social media accounts are sufficient methods in gathering background information on candidates. Only using internet searches to do a background check is like building a house with just a crowbar and a hammer. While these tools can gain some insight, they should be used as supplementary to a professional background check service such as Radius Investigations, who can verify the information you find online.

Why is checking Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google not a sufficient background check?

Privacy settings

While some candidates may be naive and freely post with no filter, many are becoming smarter to hiring agents. 70% of employers report using social media to screen candidates and those who are looking for employment are taking notice. With the right privacy settings, users can hide questionable material from their profile. On the flipside, those who have no privacy settings enabled on an account could be knowingly posting non-controversial content.

Lacks Vital Information

It is no common that someone will be posting about their recent arrest online, (although it does happen, we personally have come across it in our investigations) or their credit and financial information. Going back to the earlier point, candidates can easily fabricate their social media pages to appear desirable to recruiters or withhold information. A professional background check goes beyond the basics and can access criminal, legal records, and financial information.

Inaccurate and Incomplete

It is important to remember that any information gathered online and on social media is not verified information. To extend on the last point about fabrication, social media pages are not going to necessarily tell you whether the prospect would be a good employee. For example, someone who posts about their pets and hobbies doesn’t tell you whether they are qualified for the position. More importantly, relying on internet searches could end up with you making a critical mistake by screening the wrong account due to similar names.

How a Professional Background Check Resolves these Issues

Comprehensive

Professional background checks cover a wide range of facets that can be used in the hiring decision process. Professional background check can include:

Legal Protections and Liability

Using a professional service can prevent you from unknowingly discriminating someone from hiring or firing based on information gathered from social media or internet inquiries, because professional background checks provide verified information. It also protects you from violating any privacy laws, which are still vague in regards to information on the internet. Private investigators who provide professionals background checks services provide verified information, know how to identify potential legal issues, and proceed between your company and themselves to remain in compliance with the law.

Confirmation of Employment History

Getting a professional background check ensures an accurate employment history. Private investigators can not only perform background check services, but have the ability to physically go to the sites or conduct interviews to confirm a candidates employment records.

Convenience and Confidence

Letting a professional service handle your background check procedures can ease a big legal and logistical responsibility. Even doing a basic internet search and social media screening can be time consuming, and the quality of the results are not worth the investment.

Using social media and internet research can be valuable in understanding more about your candidates, but come with the caveats of legalities, being unverified information, and provide no guarantees of accuracy or insight. These methods should be used with caution and taken with a grain of salt in the overall hiring process. Social Media and Google should never be used as a replacement for a professional background check.

Need Professional Background Checks?

Get the facts on your potential hires through our expert Private Investigator from Radius Investigations!

]]>Swipe Left the Fakes: Is an Internet Search Enough to Find the Truth?http://prvteye.com/avoid-online-dating-scammers/
Mon, 19 Jun 2017 17:29:15 +0000http://prvteye.com/?p=4455

Many of us have found ourselves on an online dating website, looking for the right match. After what feels like endless swipes or the millionth question answered from match quizzes, (you swear you seen the same questions a thousands times, just worded differently.) you finally found a great profile. You send a message, heart beating fast, hoping this person responds. After what feels like an eternity, they do, you both hit it off, and schedule a date. As the butterflies begin to settle, you realize that something seems a bit off with their profile and interactions. You find their name, do a quick online search, and everything seems fine. Their social media pages are set to private, so it’s hard to find more information. Yet this feeling isn’t going away. Despite feeling troubled, you give the benefit of the doubt, finally meet, and become disheartened as you realize once you’re face to face that they are not who they said they were online.

Unfortunately, this type of situation happens more frequently than you may think. The questions you should ask is “Could anything else have been done to sift out the fakes from the real matches?”

While online dating has become more accepted, (59% agree that online dating is a good way to meet someone) fits our digital age and provide convenience, there is a dark underbelly to online dating. People are taking advantage of the autonomy of the internet, at others’ expenses. You may have had that “gut feeling” of something not being right about a match, you are not alone: over half of those who use online dating sites felt that some were misrepresenting themselves online.

Some disturbing trends:

These numbers are concerning and could be enough to turn you off from online dating, which is understandable. Whether you want to continue is a personal decision. However, the fact remains that online dating is one the rise and depending on your location, meeting people online may be the most accessible way to find the right match for you.

Are common search methods enough?

As explained in our earlier story, using common search methods, such as social media and Google, can work in finding out about your match, but not only can it miss key information not available to the public, it can become exhausting when you go at it alone. More than likely you are one of the 53% who have dated more than one person at the same time, which means you are conversing with multiple matches.

Is online dating worth it?

Online dating can be rewarding, but incredibly daunting. Fortunately, there are services that can help. Private investigators are moving into the digital realm to help people get peace of mind. Radius Investigations has a team of licensed private investigators that can provide professional and comprehensive background checks on your matches, as well as social media investigations. We have access to databases and resources that are not accessible to the public and won’t pop up through Google. Don’t let negative experiences prevent you from finding the right match: using a professional background check service can give you the peace of mind to move forward.